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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Color:  Orange
1960s Italian Three Piece Orange Genuine Hand Carved Alabaster Smoking Set
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very decorative 1960s Italian hand carved orange alabaster smoking set by Romano Bianchi. Consists of a heavy ashtray, also very useful as trinket dish or vide-poche. A table lighter (which also fits a wax tea light candle). And a very pretty lidded hinged box, which originally would have held cigarettes but also could be used to keep jewellery or little treasures in. Cigarette sales peaked in the 20th century, people were allowed to smoke in the office, the cinema, at restaurants, indoors and outdoors. Once women were able to smoke freely, smoking became a social norm and in general it was considered an act of elegance and sophistication. Businessmen in the 1960s were rarely seen without a cigarette in their hand. So needles to say you needed pretty smoking accessories...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Alabaster

Pair of Velvet Toy Bears, Straw Stuffed and Glass Eyes
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pair of antique velvet toy bears. Gold - brown - yellow velvet bears with glass eyes and straw stuffed. With sewn mouth and nose and movable arms and legs. Looks like a couple ( male and female ) as there heads are different in size. Beautiful old little toy bears. The arms of 1 bear have been repaired in the past: you can see the thread on the side of the arms. The arms of this bear hang loose to the body. The arms of the other bear can be moved up and down. When 1 arm up or down , the second arm follows automatically as they are attached to each other. Antique toy bears...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Velvet, Straw, Glass

Osvaldo Borsani Handles Brass, 1950, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Handles Borsani.
Category

1950s Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Mr.Peanut, Vintage Peanut Butter Maker, USA, Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Mr.Peanut - vintage peanut butter maker is an original decorative object realized in the mid-20th century. This vintage object was realized by Emenee and it was used as a real pea...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

Tubular Steel Furniture Book / Bauhaus Interior - Die Schöne Wohnung, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s - for the condition see the pictures - jr.
Category

1930s Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

"Cafe Metropole", Swedish Film Poster
Located in London, GB
Original Swedish film poster from the 1937 comedy romance film directed by Edward H Griffith and starring Loretta Young, Tyrone Power, Adolph Menjou. For ...
Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Festus Pragnell, the Green Man of Kilsona, First Edition Presentation Copy, 1936
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: PRAGNELL, Festus (Frank William Pragnell) TITLE: The Green Man of Kilsona. (The Ape-man of the Electron World) PUBLISHER: London: Philip Al...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

Ian Fleming, Thrilling Cities, First Edition, Uncorrected Proof, 1963
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: FLEMING, Ian. TITLE: Thrilling Cities - UNCORRECTED PROOF. PUBLISHER: London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, UNCORRECTED PROOF. 1 vol., only 175 copies printed, illustrated. Bound in the publisher's original pictorial printed wrappers, without the exceedingly scarce proof dustjacket. CONDITION: General light...
Category

1960s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Handmade Salmon & White Beaded Statement Necklace
Located in Seguin, TX
Circa 1960's bold dimensional salmon and white graduated beaded necklace. Measures 27" long, 1" diameter at smallest 1.5" at widest, large beads are 3/8" diameter. Salmon beads are p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Beads

Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice, 1st Ed - 1st Printing, Uncorrected Proof 1964
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: FLEMING, Ian. Title: You Only Live Twice - UNCORRECTED PROOF. Publisher: London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING, UNCORRECTED PROOF. 1 vol., perhaps limited to approximately 500 copies, neat ownership signature to page 3. Bound in the publisher's original pictorial printed wrappers. Condition: Slight slant to spine, general light...
Category

1960s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Last Flowering of the Middle Ages by Baron Van Der Elst, Stated 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
The Last Flowering of the Middle Ages by Baron Joseph Van Der Elst. Published by Doubleday, Doran and Company Inc., 1944. Stated 1st Ed hardcover. An in-depth look into art of the Middle Ages. Contents: 1. The Times and the Men who Made Them: Men of Flanders; The Flemish Parade; The Good Black Earth; The Rise of the Towns; The Medieval Guilds; Of Love, the Dream; The Upward Glance; Pt. 2. The Flemish Masters: Jan van Eyck; Petrus Christus...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Cologne Cathedral Church Souvenir Building Ashtray Vintage, German, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A 1960s souvenir building architectural model Ashtray. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of metal. A beautiful nice desktop item or just a display item in your ...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

William Brice Drawings
Located in Richmond, VA
Vintage hardback coffee table book featuring artist, William Brice and a selection of his drawings from 1955-1966. By Gerald Nordland and Thomas W. Leavi...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Surveyor's Level, Brass, Scientific Instrument, Engineering, Circa 1950
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage surveyor's level. An English, brass scientific instrument with enamelled finish, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Appe...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Atwood, Margaret, The Edible Woman, First American Edition Presentation Copy
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: ATWOOD, Margaret. TITLE: The Edible Woman. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1969. DESCRIPTION: FIRST AMERICAN EDITION PRESENTATION COPY. 1 vol., publisher's original pink cloth backed boards, gilt lettered spine, inscribed by Atwood on the half-title "For Bart & Roby best wishes Margaret Atwood...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

Martyn Green's Treasury of Gilbert and Sullivan, Stated 1st Printing
Located in valatie, NY
Martyn Green's Treasury of Gilbert and Sullivan by Martyn Green. Simon & Shuster, New York, 1961. Stated 1st printing hardcover with Gaylord dust ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Set of Two Vintage Ssico Jaguar Match Box Car Toys, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of two vintage Ssico Jaguar match box car toys. By unknown manufacturer, circa 1960. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age ...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

1960s Orb Ashtray Mod Psychedelic Orange Mid-Century Plastic + Steel Sculpture
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A wonderful sculptural orange orb ashtray from the 1960s German era of ABS Plastics manufacturing dominance. Harder to find and highly collectible decor. J...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stainless Steel

"The Day of the Triffids" Original US Movie Poster
Located in London, GB
Original US movie poster for the 1963 Sci-Fi, Horror film directed Steve Sekely and starring Howard Keel, Nicole Maurey.
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Steps, Jerzy Kosinski, Stated 1st Printing
Located in valatie, NY
Steps, Jerzy Kosinski. Published by Random House, New York, 1968. Stated 1st Printing hardcover with dust jacket. Steps is a book by the Polish-American writer Jerzy Kosinski, releas...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Book "Logos Volume 1, Arduino Panaro Method" and Wooden Rappelling, 1940s
Located in taranto, IT
Extremely rare book Arduino Panaro Bari "logos" method, volume 1, 1930s / 40s, over 400 illustrated pages, signed by the author, equipped with a wooden rappelling team Spignese il...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Sir John Franklin Ship Lantern
Located in Norwell, MA
Painted ship lantern painted with ship name Sir John Franklin. Overall dimensions: 18"H x 14. Weight is 7 pounds.
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

White Pillars Early Life & Architecture Of The Lower Mississippi Valley, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
White Pillars: Early Life & Architecture Of The Lower Mississippi Valley Written by and Illustrated by J. Frazer Smith. New York: William Helburn, 1941. 2...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Suppressed Books a History of the Conception of Literary Obscenity First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Suppressed books a history of the conception of literary obscenity by Alec Craig. The World Publishing Company, Cleveland and New York, 1963. Stated first edition hardcover with dust...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Asian Rattan Hat, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Asian hat, circa 1950. By unknown manufacturer, from Asia. In original condition, with some visible signs of previous use and age, preserving a beautiful pat...
Category

1950s Asian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Rattan

The Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
The Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum by Alice Winchester and Joseph Downs. The Magazine Antiques, 1951. First Edition hardcover. A classic work from the...
Category

1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Pair of Vintage Copper Decorative Plates, Italy, 1930s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage decorative copper plates is a pair of decorative handcrafted objects realized in Italy in the 1930s to celebrate aviation and parachuting. It is in line with the futurist celebration of speed, movement and dynamism. Very good conditions. Dimensions: Big Eagle plate...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Copper

"Low Bridge" Casting Cry of the Salt Water Angler by Kenn Bayless, Signed 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
"Low Bridge" casting cry of the salt water angler by Kenneth Bayless. Fish and Game Publishing Co., 1950. Signed and numbered (#175) 1st Ed hardcover no dust jacket. illustrated with...
Category

1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Leather Monkey by Deru
By Deru
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A monkey handcrafted from a pinched and riveted piece of leather.
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

"Austrian Applied Arts" Book
Located in New York, NY
One-volume survey of "Austrian Applied Arts", primarily Secession, with an introduction by Josef Hoffmann. Published in 1930 by Heinz & Co. Organized by t...
Category

1930s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Meubles et Ensembles Bretons by Stany Gauthier, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Meubles et Ensembles Bretons by Stany Gauthier. Ch. Massin Paris, 1950. 40 b&w plates. 12 page introduction followed by b/w photo plate section of 36 pages. Part of 'Collection de l'...
Category

1950s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Grandma Moses Vintage 1950s Autographed Color Photograph
Located in Jersey, GB
American painter Grandma Moses (1860-1961) was discovered by the collector Louis Caldor. At the time, Grandma Moses was bartering paintings at the wo...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Other

Comment Installer Son Interieur en Louis XIII ou Louis XIV, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Comment Installer Son Interieur en Louis XIII ou Louis XIV, by Colette Lehmann. Paris, Éditions Charles Massin, 1963. First edition hardcover with dust jacket. How to decorate with L...
Category

1960s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Pour Une Renaissance De La Peinture Française
Located in valatie, NY
Pour une Renaissance de la Peinture Français by Jacques Baschet. Paris: Édition S.N.E.P. Illustration, 1946. Soft cover with French text. 114 pp. An oversized art book on the rebirth...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Gym Leather Horse from Artis, 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
Manufactured by Artis in the 1960s in former Czechoslovakia. Height adjustable construction made of original blue painted steel tubing. The cleaned and preserved thick cowhide has a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Sporting Art Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Danish Blown Glass Hanging Ornaments
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A luminous and expressive group of of blown glass hanging ornaments.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Blown Glass

Olympia 1952 Picture Album
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Olympia 1952 Oslo 1952. The 6th winter Olympics Bilder Sammelband. Collectors picture album.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Collectibles and Curiosities

Ronald Searle Painting for 'Modern Types' Book Cover
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Ronald Searle painting for 'Modern Types' book cover Medium: Watercolor and Ink Size Without Frame: 13" high x 10" wide With Frame: 28" high x 21" wide Ronald Se...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities

Nouvelles Devantures et Agencements de Magasins (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
Designs for Shop Windows An hardcovered ribbon tied portfolio with 60 photogravure reproductions showing examples of New Shop fronts and Shop fittings in the Art Deco style by some ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

"La Terre, " Copper Art Deco Ashtray, France
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare and unusual, this copper ashtray celebrating the pottery industry in France is reminiscent of bronze and copper pieces designed by Paul Manship and other major sculptors in the 1920s and 1930s. This example, made of copper painted gold, depicts a nude potter at his wheel, surrounded by symbols of his industry, including kilns, planting pots and...
Category

1930s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Rare Yellow & White Suffrage Parasol with "Votes for Women" Text
Located in York County, PA
EXTRAORDINARILY RARE, YELLOW & WHITE, SUFFRAGE PARASOL / UMBRELLA, WITH “VOTES FOR WOMEN” TEXT, DISTRIBUTED BY THE NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION UNDER ANNA HOWARD SHAW’S LEADERSHIP [HEADQUARTERED IN NEW YORK], CIRCA 1913-1915: In the world of Suffrage memorabilia, parasols and umbrellas are known to have been produced, but hardly any exist. Made in both Britain and America, most of the organizations known to have commissioned them did so with white or purple, green, and white, utilizing the traditional British colors. In America, some of these can be identified to the Women’s Political Union of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. As for those in the traditional American colors of golden yellow and white, typically with black text, examples are known to have been produced and sold by the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA), beginning in the summer of 1913. According to author and expert Ken Florey, the organization peddled them for “one dollar each or ten dollars a dozen…[promoting] them as good for advertising the cause at street meetings, summer resorts, and county fairs. The design consisted of yellow and white in alternate sections, with “Votes for Women” in the white sections.” Florey goes on to explain how some umbrellas in this style are known with names of states hand-painted in the yellow panels. I am aware of Oregon and Idaho. Florey also indicates that one is known for Alaska. His discussion of the subject, and an illustration of the Idaho example, appear in his book, "Women's Suffrage Memorabilia" (2013, McFarland & Co., North Carolina), on pp. 192 and A8, respectively. The Oregon example, which have seen and held first-hand, is illustrated in "The Keynoter: Journal of the American Political Items Conservators," Summer/Fall/Winter 2008 (Women's Suffrage Special Triple Issue), Vol. 2008, No. 2-4, p. 110. In “Woman Suffrage Memorabilia,” Florey describes a heavy demand for parade accoutrements in the 19-teens. Despite the supposed numbers in which these yellow and white umbrellas were likely to have been produced, this is the only example that I am aware has actually surfaced with the “Votes for Women” text only and no state names. This makes it far more universally desirable. A period image survives in the Albert R. Stone Negative Collection, Rochester Museum & Science Center (Rochester, New York,) of a women carrying parasols in this style on Main Street West in that city on August 15, 1914. The marchers, masked, were described as wearing yellow dominoes (nun-style dresses) and carrying yellow parasols. According to museum catalogers, “The outside parasols are plain; those on the inside have the inscription, "Votes for women". The first group, in yellow and blue dominoes, advertised the speech and visit of Dr. Anna Howard Shaw [this would be members of the Empire Campaign Committee]. The second group carried placards with the names of equal suffrage states and the dates when they adopted votes for women. The Club Theatre, whose sign advertising "Burlesque" is clearly visible behind the marchers, occupies the premises at 75 Main Street West formerly occupied by the Shubert Theatre.” The National American Women’s Suffrage Association was formed in 1890. It represented a merging of the two largest Suffrage groups in America before that time. These were the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), formed in 1869 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), also formed in 1869 by Lucy Stone and her Husband, Henry Brown Blackwell, Henry Ward Beecher, and others. Stone’s daughter, Alice Stone...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

Antique and Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities for Sale

Antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities can bring whimsy and wonder to any interior. 

Decorating with old scientific instruments, historical memorabilia and vintage musical instruments, as well as other authentic collectibles and curiosities that can be found on 1stDibs, presents an opportunity to create a unique, natural history museum-like atmosphere in your home that can provoke conversation as often as it pays tribute to how far we’ve come in understanding our world. 

And bringing collectibles and curiosities into your space is actually on trend — Wunderkammern, or curiosity cabinets, were all the rage in Europe during the 1500s and continued to have adherents there and in the U.S. in the following centuries. Today, however, they’re experiencing a real surge in popularity and influencing how many interior designers are furnishing and decorating homes — combining contemporary with antique, scientific with tribal, earthly with extraterrestrial, Les Lalanne tables with Flemish tapestries.

The original Wunderkammern were entire rooms filled with objects demonstrating their owners’ worldly knowledge: A proper one included artificiala or preciosa (objets d’art); naturalia (such as skeletons, shells, minerals); exotica (taxidermy or dried plants); and scientifica (scientific instruments), frequently alongside religious relics and ancient artifacts.

Pay tribute to a history of rich and diverse musical traditions that have taken shape all over the world by decorating your home with a collection of antique and vintage musical instruments — with a little help from strong hanging wire or some wall hooks, vintage brass instruments such as a gong, French horn or trumpet can help elevate a home office or complement the efforts you’ve made to ensure a welcoming vibe in your home’s entryway. Bells or antique wind instruments can add provocative metallic contrasts to dark woods as tabletop decorative objects.  

Create an intriguing focal point with Georgian scientific instruments, such as stick barometers with mahogany cases or lacquered brass telescopes. These items stem from an era named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who ruled England in succession starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign, which lasted until 1837). Just as there was beautiful jewelry produced during the period that today is coveted by collectors, there is much to be found in the collectibles and curiosities realm too.

Wanderlust, nostalgia and a shared love of good design are contributing factors to certain trends in decorating — just as vintage trunks and luggage have reappeared as furniture or home accents in a bedroom or foyer, decorating with globes, maps or nautical objects is similarly rooted in the allure of travel and a penchant for the stylish finishing touch that collectibles bring to our homes.

Find a wide range of antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities on 1stDibs.

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